Anamorphic Optical Assembly for Mobile Camera-Enabled Device and Device Case

ABSTRACT

An anamorphic optical assembly includes a housing defining an anamorphic aperture, a hood, an optional sleeve, a bayonet coupling interface, and a catch mechanism. The bayonet coupling interface is configured for coupling the anamorphic optical assembly to a lens attachment interface that is coupled to or integral with the mobile electronic device or a protective case coupled thereto.

PRIORITY AND RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/364,174, filed Mar. 25, 2019; which claims the benefit of priority toU.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/647,824, filed Mar. 25,2018, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

This application is related to U.S. provisional patent applications Ser.Nos. 62/452,951, filed Jan. 31, 2017; 62/452,943, filed Jan. 31, 2017;62/424,387, filed Nov. 18, 2016; 62/424,318, filed Nov. 18, 2016;62/108,506, filed Jan. 27, 2015; and

U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/593,579, filed Feb. 9, 2017;now U.S. Design Pat. D918,283; 29/593,576, filed Feb. 9, 2017; now U.S.Design Pat. D918,284; and 29/592,638, filed Jan. 31, 2017; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/715,189, filed Sep. 26, 2017; nowU.S. Pat. No. 10,038,830; Ser. No. 15/671,076, filed Aug. 7, 2017; nowU.S. Pat. 10,313,568; Ser. No. 15/437,439, filed Feb. 20, 2017; now U.S.Pat. No. 10,003,724; Ser. No. 15/289,094, filed Oct. 7, 2016; now U.S.Pat. No. 9,838,581; Ser. No. 14/624,577, filed Feb. 17, 2015; now U.S.Pat. No. 9,729,770; Ser. No. 14/624,573, filed Feb. 17, 2015; now U.S.Pat. No. 9,467,608; Ser. No. 14/624,571, filed Feb. 17, 2015; now U.S.Pat. No. 9,781,319; Ser. No. 14/624,568, filed Feb. 17, 2015; now U.S.Pat. Nos. 9,596,393 and 9,838,581; 9,729,770; 9,467,608; 9,781,319;9,596,393; and

U.S. published patent applications nos. US 2018-0027156 A1; US2017-0223242 A1; US 2017-0099419 A1; US 2016-0216477 A1; US 2016-0219197A1; US 2016-0219202 A1; US 2016-0219194 A1; and

PCT application serial nos. PCT/US17/62653, filed Nov. 20, 2017, nowpublished as WO 2018/094369; PCT/US17/62650, filed Nov. 20, 2017, nowpublished as WO 2018/094367; PCT/US16/14652, filed Jan. 25, 2016, nowpublished as WO 2016/122990; European patent application no. 16743894.4(EP3251219); Taiwanese patent application no. 105102568, now Taiwanesepatent TWI672949B.

Each of these patents and patent applications is incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND

Embedded devices such as mobile phones, including Android, Apple andSamsung phones, are often equipped with miniature camera modules. Theseminiature camera modules typically include only a single fixed-focuslens and an image sensor. Some of these devices have softwareapplications downloaded or otherwise stored on them that permit limitedchoices in pre-capture camera settings, such as exposure duration andflash setting, and some provide limited post-capture image editingcapabilities designed to compensate for the inadequacy of the built-inoptics. Image processing software is however incapable of providing realimages of objects that are too close or too far from the device, or ofscenes including multiple objects that require greater depths of fieldin order to capture them without intolerable amounts of defocus blur orof scenes with moving objects without excessive motion-related blur,among other imaging issues. It is therefore desired to be able tosupplement the built-in optics of a miniature camera-enabled embeddeddevice with one or more additional lenses or other optics.

Auxiliary lenses for mobile smartphones with camera modules aretypically clipped onto the smartphone. These clip-on lenses putmechanical stresses on the smartphone directly along the optical path ofthe camera modules that can result in distortional stresses that canmechanically weaken the device and can distort the optical quality ofcaptured images. Clip-on lenses are also unstable and often movelaterally when smartphone precapture settings are being adjusted, duringimage capture and when the smartphone is being temporarily stored in abag or pocket or on a table top. It is desired to have a way to attachan auxiliary lens to a mobile device in stable alignment with the opticsof the built-in camera module.

Smartphones are used for capturing digital images in a variety ofsituations. In the past, a person operating a camera could not be in thepicture because of the unwieldy nature of the camera and thecamera-object distances typically involved in capturing an entire scenethat may include multiple persons and perhaps background buildings orother objects. Some conventional cameras include a built-in delay toallow the camera operator to quickly duck into the scene that is basedon a predetermined time duration or that uses face recognitiontechniques wherein image capture awaits a smiling camera operator toenter the scene. Either way, it is difficult to spontaneously, stablyand accurately position and direct a camera to capture a picture withoutbeing held by a human operator. Today, “selfies” are more commonly madepossible because smartphones and other mobile devices with built-inminiature camera modules are permit front-side display of the precaptureimage and these mobile devices are typically lightweight enough to holdin one hand while an image is captured. Nonetheless, it is desired to beable to more easily handle a mobile device during a one-handed imagecapture.

Today there are several competitive mobile device brands. With therollouts of each updated version of each of these brand product lines,there are often developments in the miniature camera modules that areincluded components of the mobile devices. Such mobile devices may beidentified as camera-enabled mobile devices, wherein ipods are anexample of a camera-enabled mobile device that does not include acellular phone capability, while iphones are example of camera-enabledmobile phone devices from Apple. There are likewise Samsung brand mobiledevices and Android-based devices known by several additional brandnames. Sometimes the orientation of the camera module relative to theorientation of the housing of the mobile device. For example, the cameramodule of the iphone 8 is rotated ninety degrees relative to the devicehousing compared to the orientation of the camera module of the iphoneX. It is desired to have an auxiliary lens assembly for coupling to amobile device via a lens attachment interface such as a mobile phonecase or other interface attachment that may be conveniently adjusted toaccommodate the camera modules that are disposed in either of theseorientations or that are arbitrarily relatively orientationally disposedrelative to the camera housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an exploded view of an anamorphicoptical assembly in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIGS. 2A-2B schematically illustrate a method of assembling a hood, ahousing defining an anamorphic aperture, a sleeve and a bayonet couplinginterface to form an anamorphic optical assembly in accordance withcertain embodiments.

FIGS. 3A-3B schematically illustrate in a partially exploded view and ina cross-sectional side view, respectively, an anamorphic opticalassembly configured to provide anamorphic images in both horizontal andvertical orientations of a miniature camera module of a mobileelectronic device in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIGS. 4A-4B schematically illustrate in a side view and in across-sectional side view, respectively, an example of an anamorphicoptical assembly that includes a catch for latching the bayonet couplinginterface in fixed orientation relative to the housing defining theanamorphic aperture of the anamorphic optical assembly for capturingdigital images in a cinematic view in a first orientation and forunlathching the bayonet coupling interface from the housing defining theanamorphic aperture in order to rotate the bayonet coupling interfacerelative to an orientation of the anamorphic aperture to accommodatedifferent camera orientations in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIGS. 5A-5B schematically illustrate in bottom views of an exampleanamorphic optical assembly in accordance with certain embodimentshaving bayonet orientations that are parallel and perpendicular,respectively, to the long dimension of an anamorphic aperture of theexample anamorphic optical assembly.

FIGS. 6A-6E schematically illustrate perspective views of an anamorphicoptical assembly, including a housing or a hood that defines or containsan anamorphic aperture and that is coupled with a bayonet couplinginterface that starts in a first bayonet position relative to anorientation of the housing or hood and the orientation of the anamorphicaperture and being rotated through ninety degrees to a second bayonetposition perpendicular to the first bayonet position in accordance withcertain embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE EMBODIMENTS

An anamorphic optical assembly is provided that is configured forcoupling within an optical path of a miniature camera module of a mobileelectronic device to change an aspect ratio of an image captured by thedevice. The anamorphic optical assembly includes a housing defining ananamorphic aperture, a hood, an optional sleeve, a bayonet couplinginterface, and a catch mechanism. The bayonet coupling interface isconfigured for coupling the anamorphic lens assembly to a lensattachment interface that is coupled to or integral with the mobileelectronic device or a protective case coupled thereto. The hood isdisposed between an object facing surface of the bayonet couplinginterface and an object end of the optical path of the miniature cameramodule of the mobile electronic device. The housing defining theanamorphic aperture is disposed adjacent to the bayonet couplinginterface within a hollow interior volume of the hood. The optionalsleeve is coupled concentrically between the bayonet coupling interfaceand the housing that defines the anamorphic aperture. The sleeve isconfigured to facilitate smooth rotation of the bayonet couplinginterface relative to the anamorphic aperture defined within thehousing. The catch serves to couple the housing defining the anamorphicaperture in fixed orientation within the open interior hood volumerelative to one or more bayonet tabs of the bayonet coupling interfacethat are rotatable relative to the orientation of the anamorphicaperture when the catch is unlatched from the bayonet couplinginterface. The one or more bayonet tabs are relatively rotatable betweenat least two positions about the optical axis of the anamorphic lensassembly or a second axis parallel to the optical axis.

The catch may include a screw, pin, rod or other latching mechanismconfigured in certain embodiments for penetrating both a cavity definedin an outer surface of the bayonet coupling interface and a slot definedin an outer surface of the sleeve, and to couple with a receiving cavitydefined in the housing. In certain example embodiments, the receivingcavity in the housing is threaded and the catch includes a screw thatcouples and uncouples by turning the screw. In other embodiments, thecatch may be spring loaded and releasable from the receiving cavity bylever action.

The lens attachment interface to which the bayonet coupling interface isconfigured to couple may include a protective mobile device case thatpartially or fully encloses the mobile electronic device with one ormore layers of protective materials. The protective material of the casemay even define a lens attachment aperture therein.

The anamorphic aperture defined within the housing of the anamorphicoptical assembly in accordance with certain embodiments may have anoblong shape which facilitates a change in aspect ratio. The oblongshape may include an approximately rectangular shape or alternatively anelliptical shape, a snowman shape, a heart shape, a trapezoidal shape, arhombus shape or a squashed parallepiped shape or a double image shapeincluding side by side images having a same symmetrical or asymmetricalshape or another desired shape of a captured digital image.

The oblong optical shape of the anamorphic aperture may be fixedorientationally to the sleeve or to the hood such that one or morebayonet tabs are rotatable relative to an orientation of the oblonganamorphic aperture. The anamorphic aperture may be rotatable betweenhorizontal and vertical orientations having an angular spacing of ninetydegrees.

A miniature camera module is also provided that is configured forcapturing images using a mobile electronic device. The miniature cameramodule may include a focusing lens, an image sensor disposed at a focalplane of the focusing lens, and the anamorphic lens assembly asdescribed in any of the several example embodiments described herein.

A method is provided for changing an aspect ratio of an image capturedby a miniature camera module installed on a mobile device. The methodmay include coupling an anamorphic optical assembly within an opticalpath of a miniature camera module of a mobile electronic device,including coupling a bayonet coupling interface of the anamorphicoptical assembly to a lens attachment interface that is coupled to orintegral with the mobile device or a mobile device case. A sleeve may bedisposed concentrically between the bayonet coupling interface and ahousing component that has an anamorphic aperture defined therein tochange an aspect ratio of an image captured by a miniature camera moduleon a mobile device. The sleeve may be configured to facilitate smoothrotation of one or more bayonet tabs of the bayonet coupling interfacerelative to the sleeve. The housing component may be latched in fixedorientation relative to the sleeve such that the one or more bayonettabs of the bayonet coupling interface are rotatable relative to theorientation of the anamorphic aperture between at least two positionsabout the optical axis of the anamorphic lens assembly or a second axisparallel to the optical axis. The bayonet coupling interface may belatched together with the housing when adjusting the orientation of theanamorphic aperture relative to the one or more bayonet tabs of theoptical assembly is not desired.

The method may include latching the bayonet coupling interface throughthe sleeve to the housing to fix the orientation of the anamorphicaperture at a selected orientation and unlatching the bayonet couplinginterface from the housing through the sleeve to change the orientationof the anamorphic aperture to a different orientation relative to theone or more tabs of the bayonet coupling interface, and thereforechanging the orientation relative to the mobile device orientation or anorientation of a miniature camera module installed on the device. Thedifferent orientations may include horizontal and vertical orientationshaving angular spacing of approximately ninety degrees.

One or more non-transitory digital storage devices may also be providedthat have code embedded therein for programming a processor to perform amethod of changing an aspect ratio of an image captured by a miniaturecamera module installed on a mobile electronic device in accordance withany of the methods described herein above or below herein.

Another auxiliary anamorphic optical assembly for a mobile device thatincludes a miniature camera module. An auxiliary anamorphic opticalassembly in this example includes a lens holder, an auxiliary anamorphiclens coupled to the lens holder, and a micro-bayonet coupling interface.The auxiliary lens attachment interface may be configured in accordancewith the miniature camera module of the mobile device, and may beconfigured to stably couple to the mobile device, and may be configuredin accordance with the micro-bayonet coupling interface of the auxiliarylens assembly to stably couple and align the auxiliary lens along anoptical path of the miniature camera module of the mobile device. Aflash aperture may be defined in the lens attachment interface shaped topermit a light source of the miniature camera module of the mobiledevice to illuminate an object to be captured. A camera aperture may bedefined in the lens attachment interface that is configured to receivelight reflected from the object as a digital image to travel along theoptical path to a built-in image sensor of the miniature camera moduleof the mobile device.

The camera aperture may include an oblong region that is configured insize and shape to receive a micro-bayonet coupling interface of theauxiliary anamorphic optical assembly in a first orientation when a longdimension of the micro-bayonet coupling interface is approximately inparallel with a long dimension of the oblong region of the cameraaperture, and to rotatably couple the auxiliary lens assembly in stablealignment along the optical path of the miniature camera module when thelong dimension of the micro-bayonet coupling interface is relativelyrotated out of parallel with the long dimension of the oblong region andthereby caught on an image side of the auxiliary lens attachmentinterface with the auxiliary lens stably disposed on an object side ofthe auxiliary lens attachment interface in alignment with the miniaturecamera module of the mobile device.

The auxiliary anamorphic optical assembly may include a flash apertureand a camera aperture that form a single camera flash aperture. Theflash aperture and the camera aperture may be separated by an area ofthe lens attachment interface that partially defines segments of both ofthe separated flash and camera apertures.

The auxiliary anamorphic optical assembly may include an auxiliary lensattachment interface that is configured to define therein the auxiliarylens attachment aperture shaped both to permit a light source of theminiature camera module of the mobile device to illuminate an object tobe captured and to receive light reflected from the object as a digitalimage to travel along the optical path of the miniature camera module toa built-in image sensor of the miniature camera module of the mobiledevice.

A protective case for a camera-enabled mobile device may be configuredfor coupling with an auxiliary anamorphic optical assembly. An auxiliaryanamorphic attachment may define an auxiliary lens recess configured forfacilitating rotatably coupling thereto the micro-bayonet couplinginterface of the auxiliary lens assembly for stably coupling of theauxiliary lens in optical alignment with the miniature camera module ofthe mobile device.

An auxiliary lens attachment interface may be configured for adhesivecoupling to the mobile device. An auxiliary lens attachment interfacemay be sized and shaped in accordance with a size and shape of themobile device.

The camera aperture may be coaxially configured in accordance with anoptical path of a miniature camera module of a mobile device. Themicro-bayonet coupling interface of the auxiliary lens assembly mayinclude a bayonet tab. The auxiliary lens attachment interface mayinclude a detent portion that at least partially defines a lensattachment aperture that is shaped in accordance with the bayonet tab ofthe auxiliary lens assembly to stably couple and align the auxiliarylens along the optical path of the miniature camera module of the mobiledevice.

The auxiliary anamorphic optical assembly may include a bayonet tab thatincludes an oblong shape. The lens attachment interface may include adetent that defines an oblong shape having a short dimension that issmaller than the long dimension of the bayonet tab such that the oblongshape of the lens attachment aperture is penetrable by the bayonet tabat a first relative orientation while the bayonet tab stably coupleswithin the oblong lens attachment aperture in a second relativeorientation upon rotation thereof. Once the bayonet coupling interfaceis stably coupled to the lens attachment interface of the mobile deviceor mobile device case or stand-alone interface, the bayonet couplinginterface can be rotated ninety more degrees while the housing of theanamorphic optical assembly is statically disposed in a fixedorientation relative to the bayonet coupling interface thereby changingan angle at which an image is modified by the anamorphic aperturedefined in the housing or hood.

An auxiliary optical assembly may be configured such that a cameraaperture is disposed in a first plane while a detent overlaps a roundedcavity in a second plane that is spaced-apart from a first plane alongthe optical path of a miniature camera module. An oblong auxiliary lensattachment region and a flash portion adjacent to the lens attachmentregion may be defined, respectively, to allow the miniature cameramodule to capture digital images on a built-in image sensor and topermit light from a mobile device flash to illuminate an object to beimaged.

The lens attachment region of the camera aperture may be defined in afirst plane in certain embodiments that is spaced further from an imagesensor of the miniature camera module than a second plane within whichthe flash portion may be defined. The lens attachment region may definea circular cavity in a first plane while the detent may overlap thecircular cavity in a second plane that is spaced-apart from the firstplane along the optical path.

An auxiliary anamorphic optical assembly may include an auxiliary lensholder that defines a cavity around the optical path of the miniaturecamera module to permit light from an object being imaged to reach animage sensor of the miniature camera module. The micro-bayonet couplinginterface may also define a cavity around the optical path of theminiature camera module to permit light from an object being imaged toreach an image sensor of the miniature camera module. Cavities definedin the micro-bayonet coupling interface and auxiliary anamorphic opticalelement holder may be configured to be approximately coaxial with theoptical paths of the miniature camera module and auxiliary anamorphicoptical element.

A camera aperture of an auxiliary lens attachment interface isconfigured to be coaxial with a miniature camera module, when theauxiliary lens attachment interface is coupled to a mobile device, topermit light from an object to be captured as a digital image to travelalong the optical path of the miniature camera module to the built-inimage sensor of the mobile device. The auxiliary anamorphic opticalattachment interface and camera aperture may be shaped for stablycoupling with a micro-bayonet coupling interface of an auxiliaryanamorphic optical assembly.

An auxiliary anamorphic optical assembly may be configured to couplewith a camera-enabled mobile device by coupling with an auxiliaryanamorphic optical attachment interface that includes an interfacedetail co-molded into the material of the case, which may be formed fromstamped metal and/or may include a mount plate that is configured to beadhesively or magnetically coupled to the back or inside of a mobiledevice housing.

An auxiliary anamorphic lens attachment interface in accordance withanother example embodiment may be configured for stably coupling anauxiliary anamorphic optical assembly, including an auxiliary anamorphiclens, aperture or other optic, a lens holder and a micro-bayonetcoupling interface, along an optical path of a miniature camera moduleof a mobile device to modify one or more imaging parameters, includingan aspect ratio of captured images, of the miniature camera module.

A protective mobile device case configured for coupling around a mobileelectronic device that includes a miniature camera module may include acase housing configured to securely couple around at least a portion ofthe periphery of the camera-enabled mobile device, and an auxiliaryanamorphic lens, aperture or other anamorphic optical attachmentinterface that is integral with or embedded within a case housing.

A mobile camera system may include a camera-enabled, mobile device,including a miniature camera module embedded within the mobile devicethat includes a built-in lens and an image sensor for capturing digitalimages. A mobile device processor is configured for processing thedigital images. A mobile device display is configured for viewing thedigital images. A case housing may be configured to securely couplearound at least a portion of the periphery of the camera-enabled mobiledevice. A display aperture may be defined in the case that is shaped topermit touch access to the mobile device display. A case camera flashaperture may be defined in the case and anamorphically-filtered topermit a light source of the miniature camera module of the mobiledevice to illuminate an object to be captured and to receive lightreflected from the object to be captured as a cinematically-enhanceddigital image

Referring to FIG. 1, an anamorphic optical assembly in accordance withcertain embodiments is schematically illustrated in an exploded view.The optical assembly of FIG. 1 includes a housing, a sleeve, a hood, abayonet coupling interface and a set screw or other latching rod, pin orspring-loaded catch. When the set screw is in a position whereincavities in both the housing and the bayonet interface are penetrated,then the bayonet interface and the housing are not relatively rotatable,such as when an image is being captured. In certain embodiments, whereinthe set screw is in a position wherein the cavity in the housing is notpenetrated, but a slot in the sleeve is penetrated, then, the bayonetinterface and sleeve are rotatable relative to the housing whereby suchrotation changes an orientation of an anamorphic aperture defined in thehousing relative to a camera or miniature camera module orientation.When the set screw is not inserted or is only penetrating a cavitydefined in the bayonet interface, then the bayonet may be rotatedrelative to the housing, sleeve and hood such as when it is desired toadjust an orientation of an aspect ratio change in captured images thatis facilitated by using an anamorphic lens, aperture or other optic. Incertain embodiments, the sleeve may not be rotatable relative to thehousing and in other embodiments the sleeve may not be rotatablerelative to the bayonet interface and in other embodiments, the sleevemay be rotatable relative to either the housing or the bayonetinterface.

In other embodiments, the sleeve is not provided in concentricdisposition between the bayonet interface and the housing defining ananamorphic aperture, an anamorphic lens or an anamorphic imageadjustment processor. In these embodiments, the housing and bayonetinterface are relatively rotatable except when the catch is in latchedposition affixing the housing and bayonet interface in static rotationaldisposition. In other embodiments, a single housing component is shapedto serve as both a hood and as an anamorphic optical element that isrotatable relative to the bayonet coupling interface to accommodatedifferently oriented mobile devices and on-board camera modules.

The example embodiment of FIG. 1 illustrates an anamorphic rotatingdesign concept. This design enables rotation of the bayonet interface by90 degrees and is lockable and unlockable into one of two positions thatare 90 degrees orientationally spaced apart. This lens may be orientedhorizontally when shooting for capturing images with a cinematic aspectratio and feel, so having the two different positions for one anamorphiclens allows this same lens to work on devices that are oriented ineither of two perpendicular positions.

FIGS. 2A-2B schematically illustrate a method of assembling a hood, ahousing defining an anamorphic aperture, a sleeve and a bayonet couplinginterface to form an anamorphic optical assembly with adjustableorientation of aspect ratio in accordance with certain embodiments. Acoupling interface has a hood coupled thereto which blocks stray lightincident at very high angles from the sides from impinging upon theimage sensor and negative affecting captured image quality. A sleeve isinserted which has an outer wall surface shaped in conformance with ashape of an inner wall of a recess in either the hood or the bayonetcoupling interface or both. A housing is inserted that has an outer wallsurface shaped in conformance with the shape of an inner wall surface ofthe sleeve. A catch or latch may include a separate pin, screw, rod orspring-loaded member or a hinged component that is attached to thesleeve, housing or hood.

In the illustrative example method of assembling an anamorphic optic ofFIGS. 2A-2B, the bayonet is disposed such that a hood may be placed ontop of it. A sleeve is press fit to the bayonet interface componentthrough the hood. An adhesive may be applied to bond the sleeve to thebayonet interface component. The hood may be captured in place, whilethe bayonet interface component is allowed to rotate ninety degreesaround the lip of the hood. A slot in the sleeve should be aligned witha threaded hole in the bayonet interface component.

FIGS. 3A-3B schematically illustrate in a partially exploded view and ina cross-sectional side view, respectively, an anamorphic opticalassembly configured to provide anamorphic images in both horizontal andvertical orientations of a miniature camera module of a mobileelectronic device in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate another example that embodies a process ofassembling an optical element in accordance with an anamorphic rotatingdesign concept. The housing that includes the anamorphic optical elementincludes one or more indents or other alignment artefacts that may bealigned with indents in the bayonet interface component and/or in anoptional sleeve component that may be juxtaposed concentrically betweenthe housing and bayonet components. The threaded hole in the bayonetinterface component may be used as a reference for alignment. Thehousing may be adhered or otherwise coupled to the bayonet component,e.g., with permanent Loctite adhesive or valcro or by insertion of aflexible protruding material into a snug groove or curved orpolygonal-shaped recess having an optional catch formed as angledflexible protrusions or an angled protrusion and a groove or recess.

FIGS. 4A-4B schematically illustrate in a side view and in across-sectional side view, respectively, an example of an anamorphicoptical assembly that includes a catch for latching the bayonet couplinginterface in fixed orientation relative to the housing defining theanamorphic aperture of the anamorphic optical assembly for capturingdigital images in a cinematic view in a first orientation and forunlathching the bayonet coupling interface from the housing defining theanamorphic aperture in order to rotate the bayonet coupling interfacerelative to an orientation of the anamorphic aperture to accommodatedifferent camera orientations in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIGS. 4A-4B schematically illustrate yet another example embodiment ofan anamorphic rotating design concept. An M2×2.5 mm set screw may bepenetrated into the side of the bayonet interface component. The setscrew may be tightened until it makes contact. The bayonet interfacecomponent may be locked to prevent it from rotating. In certainembodiments, there are two distinguishable pockets formed in thehousing. This allows the bayonet interface component to rotate 90degrees between two different positions of stable disposition relativeto the housing.

FIGS. 5A-5B schematically illustrate in bottom views of an exampleanamorphic optical assembly in accordance with certain embodimentshaving bayonet orientations that are parallel and perpendicular,respectively, to the long dimension of an anamorphic aperture of theexample anamorphic optical assembly. For example, bayonet position 1 ofFIG. 5A may be used when coupling the anamorphic optical assembly to ahorizontal phone such as the iphone 7/8 and 7/8+. Bayonet position 2 ofFIG. 5B may be used when coupling the anamorphic optical assembly to avertical phone such as the iphone X.

FIGS. 6A-6E schematically illustrate perspective views of an anamorphicoptical assembly, including a housing or a hood that defines or containsan anamorphic aperture and that is coupled with a bayonet couplinginterface that starts in a first bayonet position relative to anorientation of the housing or hood and the orientation of the anamorphicaperture and being rotated through ninety degrees to a second bayonetposition perpendicular to the first bayonet position in accordance withcertain embodiments.

Many different embodiments of an auxiliary anamorphic optical assemblyhave been described. These may be configured to couple to a protectivecase for a mobile device in accordance with additional embodiments thatmay include one or more of the following features. A protective batterycase for a mobile device may comprise a one-piece protective case madeof a single, uniform TPE/PC composite material using double shotinjection molding.

Alternatively, a battery case may include two or more layers. A softelastomer layer may be over-molded onto a rigid material layer, whereinthe two material layer battery case still comprises a one-piece case.

A charger for a battery case or mobile device may be contained entirelywithin a one-piece, single TPE/PC or TPU/PC or TPU blend/PC compositematerial protective case that extends entirely around five sides of aninserted phone or other mobile device. A battery case may be disposed ina wholly enclosed compartment that is fixed shut, such that the batteryis not visible even when no phone is inserted within the case,

The rechargeable case battery may be secured within a batterycompartment such that the case battery is not readily removable.Preferably, there should be one or more screws that would have to beremoved using a screwdriver to open the battery compartment and removethe battery from the case, or the battery compartment may be sealed orlocked shut in another way that takes multiple steps and preferably atool such as an allen wrench or a screwdriver is required.

In alternative embodiments, a case battery or battery pack may bevisible, accessible or readily removable or replaceable, or combinationsthereof. In some of these alternative embodiments, one or morereplaceable case batteries are used to power or recharge the mobiledevice when the mobile device runs out of charge, while in otherembodiments, a durable rechargeable case battery is used that may bereadily accessible or replaceable or not.

In certain embodiments, the battery case has a uniformly dark black ordeep blue color. For example, a Matte black or midnight blue color maybe uniform for the whole visible outer elastomer layer of the case. Aninner edge of case material that defines a camera-flash aperture mayhave a same dark color as the rest of the case and a lens attachmentaperture may be formed from the same case material. The color of theperiphery around the lens attachment aperture and/or a camera-flashopening, or one or none or both may be darker or lighter in color aroundan inner edge of the camera-flash aperture and/or lens attachmentinterface than the rest of the case.

An additive may be mixed with the thermoplastic or polycarbonatematerial during a single or double shot injection molding process offorming the single material, or soft outer layer of a two or more layerdesign, or double shot injection molding of a uniform PC/thermoplasticcomposite. The additive would accordingly include a volumetric additiveand could serve one or more functional and/or aesthetic objectives, suchas strengthening the battery case material by adding glass fibers orcarbon fibers or other fibers or elongate nano, molecular, micro and/ormacro sized particulates or strengthening components. Anothercharacteristic, attribute or physical parameter of all of part of abattery case such as an electrical, thermal, mechanical or chemicalproperty may be adjusted using a volumetric additive. A surface additivemay alternatively or additionally be introduced on an outer case surfaceas a finish or protective coating, layer, film or particulate additive,or as an aesthetic option for a user.

A camera-flash aperture and/or a lens attachment interface of a batterycase in certain embodiments may include a bevel or may appear to includea bevel or may be defined by a straight, uniform peripheral edge fromouter to inner surface. A camera-flash aperture may be formed in a softouter material layer that is a uniform cutout, while a separate lensattachment interface may have a bevel or customized shape to fit anauxiliary lens coupling component, and may have a built-in or integralcapture plate and/or catch or spring clip, or may be coupled permanentlyor temporarily at a peripheral edge of a lens attachment aperture tofacilitate coupling with an attachable lens and/or to enhance aprecision and/or stability of alignment and/or relative dispositionwithin an optical assembly of a camera module of a mobile device that isinserted within the case.

An outer surface dimension of a camera-flash aperture, with or withoutlens attachment interface coupled or integrated therewith, may be largeror smaller or a same size as the same inner surface dimension of thecamera flash aperture. In certain embodiments, the outer dimension maybe larger particularly for a reduction optical system and vice-versa foran optical assembly that provides magnification of small objects such asa microscope objective. In certain embodiments, the inner or outerdimensions of both a camera flash aperture and lens attachment interfacemay be larger, smaller or the same. The lens attachment aperture willtypically be smaller than a camera flash opening, or may include asegment that protrudes into the camera flash opening, e.g., as inembodiments that include a capture plate.

A certain surface dimension of a camera-flash aperture of the case, withor without the lens attachment interface coupled or integratedtherewith, may include a single cutout and no light isolation mechanismprotruding between the camera and flash components on the camera moduleof the device, or a camera and flash may be separated for a particularlymobile device or certain imaging applications may produce enhancedimages when separate camera and flash openings are used to transmit outof the battery case flash illumination and/or receive into the batterycase focusing component rays for forming images on a camera module imagesensor and presenting them on a display.

An otherwise hollow case volume may have disposed therein a chincombination to enhance sound propagation and/or reduce noise for soundsgenerated from a speaker and/or received at a microphone of the mobiledevice. The sound propagation pathway or pathways provided by the chincombination may comprise sound reflecting inner and outer wall surfaces,wherein care may be taken not to use sound absorbing materials on theinner surfaces, although if volume is not an issue than the chincombination enclosure may be configured to enhance the sounds byincluding sound dampening areas or surfaces along a sound path from amobile device speaker and/or to a mobile device microphone.

A battery case in certain embodiments may include a set of one or moreinner case audio openings immediately proximate iphone or other mobiledevice speakers and/or a speaker or speakers and a mic. Another set ofouter case audio openings may be defined in the outer wall of thebattery case, which may be small and irregularly shaped due to componentclutter or may be similar in size to the inner audio openings and/or maybe larger such as to expand or compress the sound depending on whichdirection through the chin enclosure that the sound is propagated. Abattery case may include inner case audio openings and outer case audioopening that face perpendicular or parallel directions, such as a casewith downward facing inner audio openings and outer audio opening thatare defined in a front surface, bottom surface, one or two side surfacesor rear surface, or combinations thereof In one embodiment, inner andouter audio openings respectively face downward from the bottom and outof the front, and these may be spaced apart by between 1.0 mm and 8.5 mmin certain embodiments. The shape of the sound path provided by a chincombination may be rounded or boxy with or without any rectangular orequivalent sides.

A battery case in certain embodiments may be entirely open in the frontsuch that an entire front surface of an inserted mobile device isdirectly accessible and not overlapping by any front surface area of thecase, or an overhang may overlap a peripheral edge of a front surface ofa mobile device without actually forming a front surface. A peripheralwall may be continuous and form a closed path that snugly fits a mobiledevice periphery. The battery case may elastically or frictionally gripor overlap a front surface periphery of an inserted mobile device suchas by overhanging the phone around the entire periphery or one or moreopposed pairs of periphery segments, and any part of the entire lengthsof the top and bottom and left and right sides may participate to holdthe mobile device in a form fit recess defined at a front wall or frontfacing surface of a front or back wall of the battery case. A back sideof a battery case may have one or more small or large windows or cutoutsfor built-in components such as a display or a USB or other power, data,wired, wireless, satellite or other antenna or communications or networkinterfacing transmitter, receiver, UI, audio or visual or other displaycomponents. In certain embodiments, the battery case has a solidcontinuous back wall, except for a hidden or otherwise inaccessiblerechargeable battery compartment or a camera-flash aperture or a lensattachment aperture or a case battery voltage or charge level indicatorLED cavity or audio opening, or combinations thereof.

In certain embodiments, a spring or elastic component may be heat stakedor otherwise coupled in place between two rigid material layercomponents to provide a compression tendency to a portion of the caseand/or between the two rigid material layer components in certainembodiments. This spring in these embodiments may be configured toprovide an enduring grip around the periphery of the phone, orparticularly at the top of the phone to counter any stretching wearingaround a hinge region or bendable zone that permits insertion of themobile device without removing a top, bottom or side peripheral wallportion for that purpose, or a top, bottom, left side or right sideperipheral wall segment of a battery case may be removable andreattachable such as by providing a first hinge for rotating aperipheral segment out of the way to permit insertion of a mobile deviceafter which the peripheral segment is rotated back into place. Acoupling or locking mechanism may be included at an opposite end of therotatable peripheral segment as the first hinge for securing the segmentwithin the periphery of the battery case.

A battery case in certain embodiments may include a processor or aswitch for opening and closing an electrical connection between therechargeable case battery and a mobile device battery. In certainembodiments, when a phone is inserted into the battery case andconnected to a lightning connector or other power connector, therechargeable case battery may be automatically connected to the phoneand charging the phone. A battery case may include a voltage or currentmonitoring circuit and trigger certain events when certain levels aremeasured. The battery case in certain embodiments does not monitor anyelectrical quantities or data, while in other embodiments, a mobiledevice battery charge level is monitored by the battery case so thatwhen the battery case is plugged into a wall outlet, the phone batteryis recharged first until the phone battery level is fully charged, andthen the case battery is recharged.

A battery case in certain embodiments includes no user-actuatable switchinterfaces, neither for actuating a power switch, nor particularly formanipulating volume switches, a silent mode switch or a power button ofthe mobile device or a shutter button, dial, wheel, touchpad or other UIdevice that may be wired or wirelessly coupled to the mobile device forcontrolling the mobile device.

A battery case may define apertures in a back wall such as acamera-flash aperture and/or a battery level indicator LED cavity, whichare small, off-center and neither circular nor matching a shape of theouter periphery of the case in certain embodiments. A relatively smallcamera flash aperture may have a chamfered shape and a very small singleLED cavity may be off-center defined in the back wall or in one or thefour side peripheral walls, and may be defined in the front face, bottomface or a side wall of the bottom peripheral segment, of a battery casein certain embodiments. A battery case in certain embodiments includes asubstantially continuous back wall and outer peripheral wall portionsand encloses a rechargeable battery for charging an inserted device, aPCB with or without a processor, one or more lightning connectors orpower and/or data connectors, chin combination components, auxiliarylens attachments and interface components, a three way intersectioninterface for coordinating flow of charge and/or data between thebattery case, the mobile device and external power and/or data sourcesoutside the battery case.

A battery case in certain embodiments may optionally include a Bluetoothradio and/or a wifi receiver/transmitter and/or another kind of wirelessor wired communication, for facilitating communication of text and/ordata between a battery case in accordance with certain embodiments andan insert mobile device and/or an external device.

A battery case in certain embodiments may include multiple materials ofdifferent shapes, sizes, rigidity, texture, elasticity, or otherparameter may be coupled together in abutting relationship to enclose amobile device. A single composite material layer for a battery case maybe made by single or double shot injection molding. Two sections of abattery case may be integral with each other or adjacent to each otheror overlapping each other or coupled together directly or via a couplinginterface component or coupling process.

In certain embodiments, a battery case may charge an inserted mobiledevice whenever the device is plugged into the battery case. Alternativebattery case embodiments include a switch for manually starting andstopping charge flow, and or for directing charging to one or multipledevices that connected together. In another embodiment, a battery casecan have multiple devices that connected respectively at multiplecharge/power connectors available within multiple mobile devicecompartments within the battery case. In some of these embodiments, thebattery case may have a UI for determining which device to charge or forsetting charging priorities for charging certain devices (ipod, iphone,ipad, iwatch) from the rechargeable case battery or from the walloutlet, and/or for setting priorities for charging from certain chargingsources (e.g., battery case 1, battery case 2, wall outlet, laptop 1).

A battery case may use a wire connection to charge an inserted mobiledevice, and/or may use induction or wireless charging. A battery case inaccordance with several illustrated embodiments may include a formfitting design. For engineering purposes, a battery case maypurposefully include a 0.1 mm gap or a 0.5 mm or less gap in certainareas to allow for manufacturing and material tolerance. A battery casemay be form fit to a phone or other mobile device, or alternativelyspaced may be provided for adding cushions that may be removed andreplaced with other optical or UI components. A battery case may havecushions with flanges extending beyond an outer battery case wall.

A battery case may have an earbud aperture or two earbud aperturesand/or USB, lightning, or other connector interfaces for peripheraland/or accessory items. A battery case may be configured to couple to astand or vehicle mount accessory and/or a mount accessory may be builtinto the battery case or carried in a compartment.

While an exemplary drawings and specific embodiments of the presentinvention have been described and illustrated, it is to be understoodthat that the scope of the present invention is not to be limited to theparticular embodiments discussed. Thus, the embodiments shall beregarded as illustrative rather than restrictive, and it should beunderstood that variations may be made in those embodiments by workersskilled in the arts without departing from the scope of the presentinvention.

In addition, in methods that may be performed according to preferredembodiments herein and that may have been described above, theoperations have been described in selected typographical sequences.However, the sequences have been selected and so ordered fortypographical convenience and are not intended to imply any particularorder for performing the operations, except for those where a particularorder may be expressly set forth or where those of ordinary skill in theart may deem a particular order to be necessary.

A group of items linked with the conjunction “and” in the abovespecification should not be read as requiring that each and every one ofthose items be present in the grouping in accordance with allembodiments of that grouping, as various embodiments will have one ormore of those elements replaced with one or more others. Furthermore,although items, elements or components of the invention may be describedor claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated to be within thescope thereof unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated orclearly understood as necessary by those of ordinary skill in the art.

The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “atleast,” “but not limited to” or other such as phrases in some instancesshall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or requiredin instances where such broadening phrases may be absent. The use of theterms “system” or “assembly” does not imply that the components orfunctionality described or claimed as part of the assembly are allconfigured in a common package. Indeed, any or all of the variouscomponents of a system, e.g., a case and a lens attachment interface maybe combined in a single package or separately maintained and may furtherbe manufactured, assembled or distributed at or through multiplelocations.

In addition, all references cited above and below herein, as well as thebackground, invention summary, abstract and brief description of thedrawings, are all incorporated by reference into the detaileddescription of the preferred embodiments as disclosing alternativeembodiments. Several embodiments of point action cameras have beendescribed herein and schematically illustrated by way of examplephysical, electronic and optical architectures. Other point actioncamera embodiments and embodiments of features and components of pointaction cameras that may be included within alternative embodiments, maybe described at one or a combination of U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,612,997,8,244,299, 8,593,745, 8,843,177, US published patent applications nos.2006/0124676, 2012/0282977, 2014/0071547, 2014/0226268, 2014/0071547,2013/0063554, 2010/0253826, 2009/0299813, 2002/0000689, 2001/0121116,2009/0089842, 2008/0276293, 2008/0271105, 2008/0271104, 2008/0172708and/or European patent no. EP2613448.

We claim:
 1. An anamorphic optical assembly configured for couplingwithin an optical path of a miniature camera module of a mobileelectronic device to change an aspect ratio of an image captured by theminiature camera module of said mobile device wherein said anamorphicoptical assembly comprises: a bayonet coupling interface configured forcoupling said anamorphic lens assembly to a lens attachment interfacethat is coupled to or integral with said mobile device; a hood disposedbetween an object facing surface of said bayonet coupling interface andan object end of the optical path of the miniature camera module of saidmobile device; a housing defining an anamorphic aperture disposedadjacent to said bayonet coupling interface within a hollow interiorvolume of said hood; a sleeve coupled concentrically between saidbayonet coupling interface and said housing, said sleeve beingconfigured to facilitate smooth rotation of the bayonet couplinginterface relative to said anamorphic aperture defined within saidhousing; and a catch that serves to couple the housing in fixedorientation within said hood relative to one or more bayonet tabs ofsaid bayonet coupling interface that are rotatable relative to saidorientation of said anamorphic aperture between at least two positionsabout the optical axis of the anamorphic lens assembly or a second axisparallel to said optical axis.